By: Richard L. Smith
Across New Jersey, quiet acts of kindness and determination are transforming lives, and behind many of these efforts is the steady support of the PSEG Foundation.
According to information shared by officials at the organization, its Neighborhood Partners Program (NPP) has become one of the most impactful philanthropic initiatives in the state, strengthening local nonprofits that know their communities best and giving them the resources to expand their reach.
Since the program’s inception, nearly $8 million has been awarded to more than 400 grassroots organizations across New Jersey and Long Island.
These are not headline-grabbing grants to massive institutions, but targeted investments in small, hardworking nonprofits — places where hope is built meal by meal, class by class, and opportunity by opportunity.
In Camden, for example, Cathedral Kitchen is far more than a soup kitchen.
It has become a place where the hungry find both food and possibility.
With help from the PSEG Foundation, Cathedral Kitchen’s 15-week culinary program has trained nearly 600 unemployed residents, opening pathways to new careers.
Astonishingly, about 90 percent of graduates land jobs within three months, a statistic that speaks volumes about the ripple effects of local investment.
In Hunterdon County, America’s Grow-A-Row turns farmland into a lifeline for families in need.
Last year alone, the nonprofit distributed 3.6 million pounds of fresh produce, placing healthy food on the tables of thousands who would otherwise go without.
For young people navigating the difficult path to higher education, More Than Bootstraps has stepped in with a peer-powered mentorship program that connects first-generation college students with those who came before them.
What started with just 11 participants now supports 50, weaving together a network of guidance, encouragement, and accountability.
And in Central Jersey, HomeFront is rewriting the narrative for families experiencing homelessness.
Beyond providing shelter and more than 1.8 million meals, HomeFront helps residents stabilize their lives, gain self-sufficiency, and imagine a future once thought out of reach.
What makes the Neighborhood Partners Program remarkable is its philosophy: fund the changemakers closest to the problems.
By placing trust in local leaders who understand the unique challenges of their neighborhoods, the PSEG Foundation ensures that resources flow directly to where they are most needed.
“Our mission is deeply rooted in community investment," shared Calvin Ledford Jr., president, PSEG Foundation. "We’ve grown from simply funding good ideas to building long-term partnerships with nonprofits we now consider trusted collaborators.”
The story of the PSEG Foundation’s Neighborhood Partners Program is, at its heart, a story of philanthropy done right: listening, supporting, and amplifying the voices already working to make neighborhoods stronger.
From Camden to Hunterdon County, the results are unmistakable, healthier families, educated youth, and communities reminded that even in challenging times, hope has partners willing to stand beside it.